Swivel stereoscopic camera apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a mini stereoscopic single camera apparatus in the form of swivel plates with positioning stop brakes. With this apparatus an attached camera can swivel and turn in a semi-circular path from the position on the left to the position on the right. This allows the apparatus to be the smallest designed apparatus to aid a user to shift a single camera from a left-eye capture position to a right-eye capture position distance of 6.5 cm without moving on a straight-line path. This novel mini-sized stereoscopic apparatus may be used with any digital, SLR, APS, Polaroid, disposable, point and shoot, or any other camera that can capture a still image of a scene or a subject on any medium. This apparatus may also be used in conjunction with any tripod or monopod. The invention helps to capture a stereo pair of images, one that emulates a left eye view of the intended subject and another that emulates a right eye view of the same scene or subject. The two image pairs can then be processed, scanned or downloaded into a computer and/or printed on paper through printing devices or viewed in any desired 3D, stereoscopic, anaglyph or interlaced viewing formats.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to stereoscopic photography and the captures of a matched pair of photo images by use of any single lens camera and captures these two images on film, paper or in digital format, one to represent a right-eye view of the intended subject and another for a left-eye view. These two images can then be processed, scanned, or downloaded and combined for viewing with various 3 dimensional formats such as Parallel, Cross-eyed viewing, with hand-held viewers, Anaglyph or Liquid Crystal Shutter glasses, or Lenticular sheet viewing or more particularly to a digital camera guiding track apparatus for accurately taking a stereo pair of digital images of a scene or a subject.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Typically, a stereoscopic camera comes with a built-in pair of left and right eye views of a subject and captures two images on a filmstrip for slide viewing. These cameras are old and do not offer the convenience and portability of a single lens camera. The digital revolution has produced a wide range of small portable digital cameras. For most products large is better, the opposite is true with digital cameras, where the need for portability and being smaller is extremely important. So imagine how useful can a stereoscopic apparatus be, if it was much larger than the camera itself. Most existing apparatus are large and bulky and would not be considered useful or portable by comparison to the standards that small portable digital cameras are being judged by today. There is a need to solve the size problem of a stereoscopic apparatus; this led the inventor to create this novel invention. No such swivel stereoscopic apparatus existed to date.

[0003] Although several patents of various apparatus have been designed to provide the ability to take a left and right eye view of a scene or a subject as suggested in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,355 issued Jan. 10, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,049, issued Aug. 30, 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 2,791,950, issued May 1957, U.S. Pat. No. 2,279,443, issued April 1942, U.S. Pat. No. 1,371,439, issued Mar. 15, 1921, and No. 713,177, issued Nov. 11, 1902, any camera with only a single capture lens can be used to sequentially expose respective images of the same scene or subject on a pair of adjacent film frames when the camera is in right and left picture-taking positions. A suitable distance between the right and left photo-capture positions is chosen to obtain a matched pair of images that when looked at together through an appropriate stereoscopic viewer shows a stereoscopic 3 dimensional image of the original scene or subject. All of these apparatus travel on a straight path requiring the apparatus to be wider than the path itself.

[0004] This new stereoscopic apparatus allows for the use with a tripod a monopod or any supporting structure with a standard tripod bolt. In addition, with the mini-compact nature of digital cameras as opposed to old bulky SLR cameras, today's users expect such adapters to now be extremely compact and portable. Again, most existing mechanisms in shops are two cumbersome, bulky or not user friendly enough for the new average consumer. Marketability demands and the growing sophistication of smaller digital cameras led to the creation of this very simplified and easy to use swivel stereoscopic apparatus primarily targeting the high-tech gadget individuals.

[0005] In addition other sliding plates are two slow to operate and capture two left and right views of a subject with a single camera. This is especially hard to use when taking stereoscopic portrait photography with a single camera, because humans are less able to stand still for a long period of time until the user releases, then shifts, then locks the camera from right to left requiring a new better and faster method. The swivel stereoscopic apparatus is so small that the user could potentially carry the camera with the swivel apparatus attached at all times if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a swivel stereoscopic apparatus, which allows for the precise positioning of just one single lens camera at each of two right/left locations and travels around a semi-circular arc path. Two individual photographic representations of a scene or a subject are then captured and stored on the camera-recording medium for further printing, scanning or download to a computer or a suitable printer.

[0007] Any macro, zoom or wide-angle lens can be used in the process. The swivel stereoscopic apparatus mainly consists of three attached member plates that rotate and swivel around each other and are designed with stop brakes to the left and right. The top member plate comes with a bolt to attach to the bottom of a camera and a bottom member plate comes with a threaded socket to attach to a tripod or a monopod. The top member plate also has an attached level vial. This swivel stereoscopic apparatus is designed to be ultra-mini, highly functional and extremely easy to use.

[0008] The swivel stereoscopic apparatus is equipped with left and right stop brakes to insure that the camera stays in a straight perpendicular fashion to the subject or scene to be captured. It securely locks to the bottom of the camera and does not have any separate parts, unless when requiring the use of the macro adapter (shown in FIG. 13-16).

[0009] What is also unique about this invention is that the camera and the attached swivel stereoscopic apparatus can easily be swiveled back and forth and locked in a stop position to capture stereoscopic photos left to right or right to left.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 shows how a point can move from position “L” to position “R” around a center point “C” to travel a distance of 6.5 cm using a radius of 3.25 cm, this is the semi-circular path used for this invention to move a camera from a left position to a right position instead of the previously patented straight line path, when connecting a tripod at a center point “C” then the point at “L” point can rotate to the “R” position, to maintain the direction of point at “L” the point itself rotates 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

[0011]FIG. 2. Shows a top view of the swivel stereoscopic apparatus in the left position. FIGS. 2.1 & 3.1 points to the first (bottom) member plate; FIGS. 2.2 & 3.2 points to the second (middle) member plate; FIGS. 2.3 & 3.3 points to the third (top) member plate; FIGS. 2.4 and 3.4 points to the mechanism to turn and tighten the bolt and fasten the top member plate to the bottom of the camera; FIGS. 2.5 and 3.5 points to the horizontal level vial.

[0012]FIG. 3 Shows a back view of the swivel stereoscopic apparatus in the left position attached to a sample tripod (FIG. 3.6).

[0013]FIG. 4 shows a back and side view of the swivel stereoscopic adapter.

[0014]FIG. 5 Shows the various parts that make up the swivel stereoscopic apparatus.

[0015]FIG. 5.1 points to the first (bottom) member plate;

[0016]FIG. 5.2 points to the second (middle) member plate;

[0017]FIG. 5.3 points to the third (top) member plate;

[0018]FIG. 5.4 points to the mechanism to turn and tighten the bolt and fasten the top member plate to the bottom of the camera;

[0019]FIG. 5.5 points to the horizontal level vial.

[0020]FIG. 5.6 points to the screw that fit into the rotating threaded socket FIG. 5.19 that fits into the center of the middle plate (FIG. 5.2) through the opening (FIG. 5.13) to connect the middle plate to the bottom plate.

[0021]FIG. 5.7 points to the screw that bolts onto the threaded socket (FIG. 5.11) through the opening on the middle plate (FIG. 5.11) and that also encompass the bolt that passes through the screw-on aid (FIG. 5.4), it also screws onto the top member plate (FIG. 5.3) through the threaded socket (FIG. 5.24)

[0022]FIG. 5.8 points to the extended bolt that connects the middle plate, the top plate and the bottom of the camera.

[0023]FIG. 5.9 points to the male ridges that pressure snap to the screw rotating aid (FIG. 5.4)

[0024]FIG. 5.10 points to the standard bolt end that screws onto the top plate first then the bottom of the camera.

[0025]FIG. 5.14 points to the left back opening on the middle member plate that serves to stop the top plate via the right brake (FIG. 5.20) in place and keep it pointing straight towards the subject or scene with the aid of the user holding the camera and pushing it slightly to the right.

[0026]FIG. 5.15 points to the right back opening that stops the middle plate from rotating beyond the semicircular arc on the right and by way of the right brake on the bottom plate (FIG. 5.17)

[0027]FIG. 5.16 points to the threaded socket that fits onto a tripod or monopod bold.

[0028]FIG. 5.18 is the left brake on the bottom plate that stops the middle plate (FIG. 5.2) from rotating beyond the semicircular arc on the left.

[0029]FIG. 5.21 is the left stop brake on the top member plate (FIG. 5.3) that is stopped when the middle plate is swiveled toward the right onto the opening no the middle member plate (FIG. 7.25)

[0030]FIGS. 5.22 and 5.23 are the left and right screws that hold the level vial (FIG. 5.5) in place on the top member plate (FIG. 5.3)

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a top view of the swivel stereoscopic adapter—with the sub-numbers matching the same sub numbers as in FIG. 4.

[0032]FIG. 7 shows the swivel adapter parts from a top view, the sub numbers correspond to the same sub numbers shown in FIG. 5.

[0033]FIG. 8 shows the adapter from a top view and points to the distance between the center of the top member plate and the center of the bottom member plate and a radius of 3.25 cm.

[0034]FIG. 9 shows how the top plate with rotate around the center of the bottom plate and how the top plate can maintains a straight forward position when the user holds the camera that would be attached to the top plate and swivels it from side to side.

[0035]FIG. 10 shows the position of the swivel adapter after a full swivel from left to right and how the middle plate and top plates come to stop in order to maintain a straight position.

[0036]FIG. 11 shows how a mounted camera can be swiveled using the swivel stereoscopic apparatus to shift from a left-eye view to a right-eye view.

[0037]FIG. 12 shows two sample sizes of a swivel adapter, one with a radius of 3.25 cm and allows a diameter of 6.5 cm (the average distance between two human eyes. The second with a radius of 10 cm, this allows for capturing of great stereoscopic photos from a far away distance as it makes the left-right distance separation 20 cm (different length middle member plates can be shortened or elongated to create the desired length.

[0038]FIG. 13 shows how a smaller arc path creates a shorter distance, in this case 2 cm from a left and right point position.

[0039]FIGS. 14 & 15 Shows a swivel stereoscopic macro adapter that fits underneath the swivel adapter as shown in FIG. 15. And is tightly positioned between the bottom member plate and the tripod screw. FIG. 15 shows the swivel plate fitted over the macro adapter (FIG. 15.1).

[0040]FIGS. 14.3 & 14.4 shows the right and left bent ends that extend upwards to hold the bottom member plate (FIG. 15.9).

[0041]FIGS. 14.5 and 14.6 points to the left and right stop brakes on the macro adapter to restrict the movement of the middle plate to the left and right in order to maintain a smaller arc travel path.

[0042]FIGS. 14.7 & 14.8 points to the areas where the left and right stop brakes (FIGS. 15.12 and 15.13) on the top member plate (FIG. 15.11) respectively come to a complete stop.

[0043]FIG. 16 shows how the top member plate swivels from left to right to a total separation distance of 2 cm (which is good for taking pictures from a distance of 30 to 90 centimeters away from the subject to be photographed)

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0044] Referring to the drawings as sub numbers to the Figure numbers, here's how the Swivel Stereoscopic Camera Apparatus is best used:

[0045] The user first attaches the bottom plate (FIG. 3.1) to a monopod, tripod (FIG. 3.6) or a mini-tripod's bolt and is tightened.

[0046] The user then by use of the screw aid bolt (FIG. 3.4) of the top plate (FIG. 3.3) screw to the bottom of the camera where the threaded socket exists and secures tightly in a fashion where the level vial (FIG. 3.5) is placed parallel to the backside of the camera. When this is done, the camera is now attached to the swivel stereoscopic apparatus, which is in turn attached to the tripod.

[0047] Using the level vial (FIG. 3.5) and the tripod (FIG. 3.6), the camera can be leveled horizontally by adjusting the tripod.

[0048] Then the user can swivel the camera to the left position for example by holding the camera and twisting it to the back and left in a semicircular path and then when it comes to a stop swivel the camera towards the inside as it turns 180 degrees in the opposite rotation direction to come to a straight line left stop position and as the apparatus, tripod and camera lens are pointed towards the scene to be photographed, the user captures a left-eye view shot (FIG. 10).

[0049] Then the user swivels the camera to the right position by holding the camera and twisting it to the back and left in a semicircular motion and when it comes to a stop swivels the camera towards the inside to come to a straight line right stop position and captures a right-eye view shot.

[0050] The user can choose to first take a left then right shot or visa versa.

[0051] If the user wishes to capture close-up shots, it is best to use the macro adapter (FIG. 14), the macro adapter is placed between the bottom plate and the tripod, then the same steps above are repeated only the swivel is now instead a smaller arc.

[0052] Users can then process, scan or download the stereo pair of images onto a computer or printer and manipulate with a 3D stereoscopic editing or mixing software or a professional photo editor to create the desired stereoscopic or anaglyph viewing formats. 

We claim:
 1. A mini pocketsize swivel stereoscopic apparatus comprising: three main member plates with a short radius swivel distance to help travel a camera's lens from a left position to a right position over a diameter of 6.5 cm (may also be below or above for close-ups or distant scenes); means on first (bottom) member plate to attach securely to a tripod or monopod; means on said second (middle) member plate to attach and swivel and stop over the first member plate in an exact semicircular path (or a smaller arc with the use of a macro adapter) this second member plate could range in size from 3 cm to 10 cm or more; means on third (top) member plate to attach to any camera and secure on top of, and swivel and stop over the second member plate; means on third (top) member plate to level horizontally;
 2. A small macro plate that restricts the movement path of claim 1 from left to right in a smaller arc needed to capture stereoscopic images of close objects.
 3. The apparatus claim of 1 with the first (bottom) member plate attached to a tripod or monopod, and the third (top) member plate attached to the camera, the second (middle) plate swivels from left to right in a semi-circular arc path to move the camera lens from a right-eye view position to a left-eye view position of a scene or a subject.
 4. The apparatus claim of 3 including means to level said camera horizontally and in parallel on either a flat surface or any uneven surface by use of any standard tripod.
 5. The apparatus claim of 4 including means to position digital camera to a left or right first position to capture the first pair of a stereo pair of images for the purposes of future viewing in various three dimensional formats. Said swivel top, middle member plate, and attached camera is first moved in a semi-circular path to the furthest left point where it comes to a complete stop when the right side of the camera is pushed forward, this is accomplished with the help of left and right stop brakes located on the top and bottom member plates.
 7. Said apparatus claim of 1 is the first swivel apparatus to achieve stereoscopic photographs but requires nearly half the size of any other stereoscopic apparatus to achieve travel of the same distance.
 8. Said apparatus claim of 1 is designed to take two separate left and right views of an intended subject with a distance separation of 6.5 cm resembling the average distance separation of two human eyes or less if using additional macro adapters or up to 20 cm (radius of 10 cm) or more when using wider second (middle) member plate as shown in FIG.
 12. 9. Said apparatus claim of 1 is intended for use with any camera in all its mode of operations including but not limited to various macro, zoom or wide-angle modes/or attachable lenses. Also said apparatus claim of 1 has a default pre-set right and left view distance separation based on the width of the second (middle) member plate, the distance may also be reduced with the use of a macro adapter as shown in FIG. 13-16.
 10. Said apparatus claim of 1 is an extremely simple, efficient and accurate process to move a digital camera from the default left position to the right position. It is the first and only mini-size mechanism that allows for a normal human eyes separation of 65 mm. This makes the apparatus in claim 1, the fastest and smallest stereoscopic adapter ever created for a single lens camera to capture an accurate pair of left-to-right or right-to-left eye views and making it the most suitable for stereoscopic photography when traveling lightly. 